Education for Cataloging and the Organization of Information:
Pitfalls and the Pendulum
Edited by Janet Swan Hill
A Review
The one class in library school that seems to be universally dreaded is The Cataloging Class, by whatever name it is called (Cataloging, Organization of Information, Bibliographic Control, etc.). Anecdotally, library school administrators do not seem very dedicated to cataloging class either--at many schools it has ceased to be a requirement. Meanwhile, the numbers of cataloging positions have dwindled, seemingly justifying this trend. Yet, with the proliferation of information resources, organization of information is more important than ever.
In Education for Cataloging and the Organization of Information, Janet Swan Hill has gathered a collection of editorials and articles that study trends in cataloging education via library school and other sources, from many different angles. Many of the famous names in cataloging are present in this work, including a few OLAC members. The volume is organized into four sections that synthesize this mammoth subject. "A Matter of Opinion" includes essays covering fundamental philosophical questions regarding cataloging, such as its very purpose in a library science curriculum. "The Context" contains articles that provide an environmental scan. The demographics of technical services staff, the current curriculum in library school courses, the training materials available and most used, and the views of cataloging teachers and students are explored in-depth. "Education for Specific Purposes" explores the pillar subjects of cataloging education: format integration, subject cataloging, authority control and practical skills. "Alternatives for Instructional Delivery" studies how the classroom environment can be improved, distance learning, online learning, the Program for Cooperative Cataloging, training of non-catalogers (an increasingly important topic as authors of electronic documents provide metadata for their own work), and on-the-job apprenticeship.
This volume collects and explores the issues facing cataloging educators. The information presented here makes it clear that almost anyone involved directly or indirectly in the task of cataloging is a potential educator and needs to approach that role thoughtfully. The library school instructor must balance the tension between theoretical and practical. The seasoned professional cataloger must take responsibility for a mentoring role. The new professional must accept an apprenticeship phase. The library school student not destined for a cataloging career should still learn that organization of information is critical to all of librarianship, even more in the Google world than before.
The wealth of material in this volume will be of good use to many. A colleague of mine who is teaching an Organization of Information class for the first time found it to be exceptionally helpful. Those studying cataloging, whether at the library-school level or those of advance academic interest will find this a thorough source of information and study. Last, and perhaps most importantly, the practicing professional will find this volume an education and an awakening to awareness of the factors affecting the profession’s present and future.
Published in 2003 by: The Haworth Information Press, Binghamton, New York. (xix, 398 p.) ISBN: 0789020289 ($79.95); ISBN: 0789020297 (pbk.-$49.95). Co-published simultaneously as Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, v. 34, nos.1-3, 2002.
Reviewed by:
Rebecca L. Lubas
Special Formats Cataloging Librarian
MIT Libraries
Last updated: June 25, 2004
http://www.olacinc.org/reviews/hill.html
neumeist@buffalo.edu